Page 41 of If You Love Me

She only found out he was coming an hour ago, when I had confirmation that his flight had landed in Toronto. He pats her awkwardly on the back, then smooths his tie when she releases him. Other than the players, he’s the only guy I know who would wear a three-piece suit to a hockey game. Although, he did leave New York directly from work and came straight here when he landed.

“My goodness, Calliope. You’ve grown at least a foot since I saw you last. How old are you now? Ten?”

“No! I’m eight!” She beams up at him. “We’re going to have so much fun. They have snacks and drinks in the box, and they have a popcorn machine! Did you know Connor Grace is my favorite player and after that is Roman Hammerstein? I’m so excited to see them play!”

He nods knowingly. “Ah, that explains the jersey.”

“Connor even signed it!” She shows him the signature across the shoulders.

Ophelia stands off to the side, dressed in her usual uniform of all black, but she is representing with a Terror hoodie. It’s a special-edition one designed by a local tattoo artist. My dad bought it for her when I got the job with the Terror. He might not be around much, but he always pays attention when I tell him what she likes. She accepts an awkward hug from him, but perks up significantly when Rix, Essie, Tally, and Dred show up to escort them to the box.

At least I don’t have to worry if Dad needs to take work calls. I wave goodbye and join the team in the locker room for the pregame strategy talk. We need more team cohesion if we want to win games. “I want clean game play tonight,” Coach Vander Zee says.

“We need to remember what position we play,” Grace mutters.

“You got something to say, Grace, say it to my face,” Madden snaps.

“This, right here, is the damn problem!” Vander Zee booms. “Whatever your issue is with each other, iron it the fuck outoffthe ice. You’re skilled professionals, and I want you to channel your energy into playing a good game, not trying to show each other up. Am I understood?”

“Yes, Coach,” Madden and Grace say at the same time, ears a matching shade of red.

Vander Zee looks my way, giving me the floor.

I need to show him I can handle these boys and get them to playtogether. It’s up to me to prove that he made the right decision by bringing me on the team, and this is one way.

“We need more of what we saw at practice today,” I add. “You’re a team, you need to support each other on and off the ice. Show up for each other, and more importantly, show up foryourself.”The room is pin-drop silent, every set of eyes trained on me. “When you step inside this locker room and suit up, you become brothers. You don’t have to love each other every moment of every day, but you do have to have each other’s backs. In this room, but especially out there.” I point toward the door. “This team won the cup last year. That wasn’t a fluke, that wasearned. You fought for that. Bethatteam when you take the ice tonight.”

“Well said, Coach Forrester.” Roman claps and the rest of the room breaks into a round of enthusiastic applause.

I can’t deny the way the look of pride on Roman’s face bolsters my confidence. And lights up other parts of my body.

Coach Vander Zee gives me a rare smile of approval. “Let’s get out there and play the kind of hockey that takes us to the finals again this year.”

That gets a round of applause andhell yeahs. The players file out of the locker room, and I fall into step with the coaching staff. Coach Thomas is in the upper box with Fielding.

Vander Zee runs a hand through his hair. “Nice work in the locker room, Forrester.”

“Thanks. I’m making headway with Grace, but we need those boys to sit down and deal with the issue.” It’s frustrating to feel like I’m at standstill. I can work with Grace as much as I want, but if I can’t get Madden on my side, then where am I?

“Agreed. Every time I’ve pulled them in they say they’re fine, but the tension is there.” Vander Zee rubs his bottom lip. “I think you’re right about Palaniappa and Grace on the same line, Forrester.”

I made the suggestion this afternoon when I was rewatchingsome of the practice footage. “Palaniappa is always level-headed.”

“So is Grace when he’s out there with him. He plays with skill instead of ego.”

Last season I took a team at the bottom and brought them to the top. Toronto is already a strong team. We need Grace and Madden to bury the hatchet so there’s no more team division. And the best way to make that happen is to talk to the guy who already has the team’s loyalty, not the one fighting for it. Madden is the key to this, and if Thomas can’t deal with him, someone else has to.

In the first period, Grace and Palaniappa help shut out Carolina, and Grace manages an assist with Bright scoring a goal for the Terror.

“Nice work out there, Grace. That’s the kind of hockey I love to see from you,” I praise when he rotates off after the goal.

“Thanks, Coach.” A slight smile tugs at the corner of his mouth.

It grows larger when Bright echoes the statement.

The game unfolds, and Toronto manages to keep the lead, only letting in one goal at the beginning of the third period, giving us a 3-1 win. If we have a few more games like this, with Madden and Grace playing like they’re on the same team, it could make sorting things out between them that much easier.

My phone is full of messages from Fee after the game.

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